Trail network in Sierra de Gata Eljas river “Who reads a lot and walks a lot; sees a lot and knows a lot” Miguel de Cervantes Published by ADISGATA Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral de Sierra de Gata Technical Coordination SYLVESTRIS Environmental Consultancy ADISGATA Texts SYLVESTRIS (Routes). Guadalupe Morcillo (Nature). ADISGATA (Villages and practical information). Angel Barrena (Foreword) Design, layout and prepress IM˘GICO Translation María Bravo and Juan Manuel Cañas (Digital Portuguese and English versions) Photography SYLVESTRIS . ADISGATA . @nher. Francisco Barrena Printed by EFEZETA . Graphic Arts. Badajoz D. L. BA-295-2015 FREE COPY This publication is 80% co-funded by the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund For Rural Development: “Europe invests in rural areas”) in the framework of the LEADER project (axis 4), measure 313 “development of touristic activities” within axis 3 “quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy”, Rural Development Program Extremadura 2007-2013 – Regional Program for Rural Development of the Local Action Group ADISGATA. ADISGATA C/ Obispo Álvarez de Castro, nº 2. 10.850 Hoyos (Cáceres) Tfno: 927 51 41 10 - Fax: 927 51 42 13 [email protected] www.sierradegata.org Trail network in Sierra de Gata Approved Trails. June, 2015 Track for GPS in www.sierradegata.org INDEX Foreword. To walk through Sierra de Gata 6 Route map. 9 MIDE and trail signposts. 12 GR 10 Trails. 15 Stage 1 Hurdes limit - Robledillo de Gata 16 Stage 2 Robledillo de Gata - Descargamaría 18 Stage 3 Descargamaría - Cadalso 20 Stage 4 Cadalso - Torre de Don Miguel 22 Stage 5 Torre de Don Miguel - Gata 24 Stage 6 Gata - Villasbuenas de Gata 26 Stage 7 Villasbuenas de Gata - Perales del Puerto 28 Stage 8 Perales del Puerto - Hoyos 30 Stage 9 Hoyos - Acebo 32 Stage 10 Acebo - San Martín de Trevejo 34 Stage 11 San Martín de Trevejo - Villamiel 36 Stage 12 Villamiel - Trevejo 38 Stage 13 Trevejo - Cilleros 40 Stage 14 Cilleros - Portuguese Border 42 Short Distance Trails (PR). 45 PR-CC 181 Tralgas Valley (Stage 1) 46 PR-CC 181 Tralgas Valley (Stage 2) 48 PR-CC 181 Tralgas Valley (Stage 3) 50 PR-CC 182 Sierra de Dios Padre 52 PR-CC 183 Cañada Real 54 PR-CC184 A Fala route 56 PR-CC 185 Puerto Castilla 58 PR-CC 186 El Chorrito 60 PR-CC 187 Chorrerón route 62 PR-CC 189 Ruta de las Fuentes 64 4 Index Local Trails (SL). 67 SL-CC 201 Las Potras 68 SL-CC 202 Sierra de los Ángeles 70 SL-CC 203 Hernán Pérez Reservoir – Matón Dolmen 72 SL-CC 204 Los Pajares 74 SL-CC 205 La Sierrilla 76 SL-CC 206 Camino de Santo Tomé 78 SL-CC 207 To the Chapel of Espíritu Santo 82 SL-CC 208 Among rivers and woods 84 SL-CC 209 Monte de la Osa 86 SL-CC 210 From the Porcarizo to the Chapel 88 SL-CC 211 Camino de Hoyos a Trevejo 90 SL-CC 212 Cañada Real de Vegaviana a Malladas 92 Villages in Sierra de Gata. 94 Nature in Sierra de Gata. 100 Resources directory. 104 Index 5 To walk through Sierra de Gata (hiking) n the northwest corner of the province of Cáceres, being the border with Portugal (west) and Salamanca (north), you will find Sierra de Gata, one Iof the most beautiful and authentic regions of Extremadura. Part of The Central System mountain ranges, this rugged region has 20 villages and 2 ham - lets scattered over more that 100,000 hectares and with no more than 1,000 inhabitants in each village. Sierra de Gata is blessed with unrivalled landscapes diversity as well as extremely rich flora and fauna, large water resources in every corner, a gentle weather with abundant rain that helps maintaining such a lush vegetation, a traditional popular architecture... all these factors have given shape to a sus - tainable way of living in peace with nature, based of the smart use of the re - sources given by the land, specially vines, chestnuts and olive trees, and the preservation of a traditional culture with a special identity. So authentic that some of its villages still preserve a unique language known as „A Fala‰ that enriches the culture of the region. 6 Foreword The landscapes and the people of Sierra de Gata are undoubtedly two of the main reasons to visit these lands, walk through its valleys and climb its highest peaks. Here hiking is a delight, both for casual hikers and demanding athletes. The hiking resources this region has to offer are increasing as the number of people interested in this modern sport is increasing too; a healthy, cheap and environment-friendly activity. Apart from the wide network of trails that Sierra de Gata has to offer to the hiker, this guide is an invaluable resource to know how to get lost through these roads, a GPS not to lose your way, a support to know all the possibilities and attractions you will find in your hiking adventure properly. In this guide you will find a total of 35 routes or trails: 14 GR-10 routes, 10 short-distance routes (PR) and 12 local trails (SL), with detailed descriptions of the routes, contour plans and indexed according to the MIDE. A guide, informative panels and, in general, the whole signposting process, description and homologation of the routes are part of the great effort made by ADISGATA ( Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral de Sierra de Gata) to mark the thick network of trails in the region and add value and favour the practice of this sport that can be done by people of all ages. A new environ - ment-friendly way to visit a place. Foreword 7 Map of routes and trails in Sierra de Gata SL-CC 206 PR-CC 186 SL-CC 202 PR-CC 189 PR-CC 185 SL-CC 207 SL-CC 205 PR-CC 184 PR-CC 181 SL-CC 208 PR-CC 184 SL-CC 209 SL-CC 203 PR-CC 181 PR-CC 181 PR-CC 181 PR-CC 182 SL-CC 204 SL-CC 211 SL-CC 201 14 routes SL-CC 210 10 routes PR-CC 183 12 routes Trail type PR-CC 183 Village PR-CC 187 SL-CC 212 Points in each route indicate the beginnings and the ends of them as well as those existing inside villages. SL-CC 206 PR-CC 186 SL-CC 202 PR-CC 189 PR-CC 185 SL-CC 207 SL-CC 205 PR-CC 184 PR-CC 181 SL-CC 208 PR-CC 184 SL-CC 209 SL-CC 203 PR-CC 181 PR-CC 181 PR-CC 181 PR-CC 182 SL-CC 204 SL-CC 211 SL-CC 201 14 routes SL-CC 210 10 routes PR-CC 183 12 routes Trail type PR-CC 183 Village PR-CC 187 SL-CC 212 Points in each route indicate the beginnings and the ends of them as well as those existing inside villages. Hike information Method (MIDE) MIDE is a communication system that helps hikers know and value the technical and physical requirements of a route. Its target is to unify assessments on the difficulty of routes to help every hiker choose the most appropriate option. MIDE consists of two blocks of information: Valuation (from 1 to 5 points. From less to more) of four different facets of difficulty: Environment harshness Route direction Difficulty to move Effort required Basic information of each route (schedule, distance, gradients, etc.): Horizontal distance Schedule Ascent gradient Descent gradient 1. Environment is not risk-free 2. There is more than one risk factor 3. There are several risk factors 4. There are quite a lot of risk factors Environment 5. There are many risk factors 1. Well dened trails and crossroads 2. Trails or signs that indicate continuation 3. Needs precise identication of geographical features and cardinal directions 4. Needs navigation off the roads Route 5. Navigation interrupted by obstacles that have to be avoided. 1. March on at land 2. March through bridle paths 3. March through stepped trails or rugged lands 4. You need to use your hands or jump to keep your balance 5. You need to use your hands to advance Movement 1. Up to 1 hour of real march 2. Between 1 and 3 hours of real march 3. Between 3 and 6 hours of real march Estimated according to MIDE 4. Between 6 and 10 hours of real march standards for an average Effort 5. More than 10 hours of real march hiker with a light luggage 12 More info at www.euromide.info Chronicles say that the emperor Julio César stated that wars are won on foot. His troops could march up to 50 km a day and his enemies no more than 20. This can be the origin of long distance trails. Rivera de Gata GR 10 Trails ÂGran RecorridoÊ (GR) is the name given in Spanish to trails from an European trail network mainly found in France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Thought for hikes of more than two days, generally longer than 50 km. The GR 10 trail goes through Sierra de Gata; it starts in Valencia and ends in Lisbon, drawing a line that crosses the whole Iberian Peninsula from east to west and links the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. Stage 1 Limit Hurdes - Robledillo de Gata 16 Stage 2 Robledillo de Gata - Descargamaría 18 Stage 3 Descargamaría - Cadalso 20 Stage 4 Cadalso - Torre de Don Miguel 22 Stage 5 Torre de Don Miguel - Gata 24 Stage 6 Gata - Villasbuenas de Gata 26 Stage 7 Villasbuenas de Gata - Perales del Puerto 28 Stage 8 Perales del Puerto - Hoyos 30 Stage 9 Hoyos - Acebo 32 Stage 10 Acebo - San Martín de Trevejo 34 Stage 11 San Martín de Trevejo - Villamiel 36 Stage 12 Villamiel - Trevejo 38 Stage 13 Trevejo - Cilleros 42 Stage 14 Cilleros - Portuguese border 44 15 Stage 1 ines, chestnut trees and ferns protect the path on its way P up from the Hurdanian village of Ovejuela to the top of the mountains that set the border between the re - gions of Las Hurdes and Sierra de Gata, this place is known as Cruz del Puerto and it is here where the GR 10 trail across Sierra de Gata starts.